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“What do I do?”

“Did you speak to Tyler about it?”

“I didn’t want to ask him. You understand.”

“Did you try calling Fred?”

“He left his phone in the safe in our room.”

“Ah.”

Her mouth twists. “Say it.”

“I’m not saying it.”

“I can literallyhearyou saying it.”

I hug her. “Okay, okay, I’m thinking it, but that’s not helpful, so let’s go and see if we can find Fred, all right?”

She sniffs against my shoulder. “Why is this happening? Who would want to hurt me? Or Fred?”

“I don’t know, Em.”

“I just want to marry the man I love. Why does it feel like that’s too much to ask?”

I pull away. Her eyes are red, but no tears have fallen; they’re just gathered in the corners of her big blue eyes. “If I knew the answer to that, thenmyboyfriend wouldn’t have told me he’s not proposing this weekend.”

She sniff-laughs. “He said that?”

“He thinks it’s tacky to propose at someone else’s wedding.”

“Itistacky.”

“I know, I know.”

“Is this the universe telling me I shouldn’t marry Fred?”

“No. You should marry him.”

She uses her thumb to wipe the moisture out of the corner of her eye. “Aren’t you the one always telling me you have terrible romantic instincts?”

“WhereI’mconcerned. But I’ve matched a bunch of people and they’re still together.”

“Like who?”

“The details aren’t important.”

“Uh-huh. What about Harper?”

“I haven’t had any luck there, I admit, but I think sheisdating someone, only she won’t say who. Which worries me.”

“Why?”

“Because what if it’s Connor? Again?”

She shakes her head. “I think you need to let her make her own mistakes.”

“You’re right.”